Friday, December 7, 2018

Mucus is a substance that helps the stool move through the intestine, but is usually produced in small quantities, barely enough to lubricate the intestine and mix with the stool without being perceived by the naked eye.

So when you get to observe the stool with mucus, usually indicates the presence of an infection or other alteration at the intestinal level as an ulcer or irritable bowel syndrome, it is important to see a gastroenterologist for a full evaluation and identify if there is any problem that needs to be treated.

1. Food Intolerance

Food intolerances and allergies, such as sensitivity to lactose or gluten, cause inflammation of the walls of the intestine when food comes in contact with the mucosa, generating an increase in mucus production which can be observed in the stool.

In these cases, other symptoms may arise such as abdominal swelling, diarrhea, red spots on the skin, excess gas or constipation.

What to do: If intolerance to any type of food is suspected, it is important to consult a gastroenterologist for an intolerance test.

2. Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis occurs when some type of microorganism such as a bacterium or a virus infects the stomach and intestines, causing excess mucus in the stool, intense nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite and pain in the belly.

Normally, this type of problem arises due to the consumption of contaminated water or food, but can also occur after prolonged use of antibiotics, as good bacteria are eliminated from the intestinal mucosa, facilitating the development of more harmful ones.

What to do: normally gastroenteritis does not need a specific treatment, just rest at home and drink a large amount of fluids to avoid dehydration caused by diarrhea. In addition to this, food should be light, giving preference to well-cooked foods, cooked vegetables and fruits, and foods low in fat.

3. Irritable bowel

The irritable bowel causes an inflammation of the intestinal mucosa that increases the amount of mucus in the stool. Although it may occur in all cases of irritable bowel syndrome, mucus is more common in people who have long periods of diarrhea.

Other common symptoms of the IBS sufferer are excess gas, abdominal bloating, and periods of diarrhea that alternate with periods of constipation, mainly during periods of high stress or anxiety.

What to do: if there is already a diagnosis of irritable bowel, excess stress should be avoided by taking part in leisure activities, but adequate nutrition should also be provided by avoiding the consumption of irritating foods of the intestinal mucous such as coffee, spicy foods, pepper and foods with a high fat content. If an irritable bowel is suspected, a gastroenterologist should be consulted to assess whether this is really the problem.

4. Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic intestinal disease that causes constant inflammation of the walls of the intestine, causing symptoms such as mucus in the stool, severe abdominal pain, fever, bloody diarrhea, and weakness.

Although there is not yet a specific cause for Crohn's disease, it can arise at any stage of life, especially if there is a decrease in the immune system.

What to do: Treatment for Crohn's disease usually includes changes in eating habits such as controlling the amount of fiber ingested and reducing the amount of fats and dairy products, including their derivatives.

5. Intestinal obstruction

Intestinal obstruction occurs when something prevents the passage of stool in the intestine. So the most common causes are hernias, a bowel twist, ingestion of some kind of object, chronic constipation, or even a tumor in the intestine.

In these cases, the mucus is produced in excess to try to push the stool, which ends up not passing and generates other symptoms such as abdominal swelling, severe abdominal pain, excess gas and decreased amount of stool.

What to do: Intestinal obstruction is an emergency that needs to be treated immediately to avoid serious complications such as dilation or rupture of the intestine. So if there is any suspicion of this problem, you should go immediately to the hospital.

6. Anal Fissure

The anal fissure is a relatively common problem, which consists of the presence of a small wound or tear in the mucosa that covers the anal region, being caused mainly by large, hard and dry stools which dilate the sphincter causing injuries. This fissure usually causes symptoms such as diarrhea, pain when evacuating, abdominal pain, bleeding when evacuating, itching around the anus and the stool may present mucus.

What to do: the most important thing in these cases is to maintain adequate intimate hygiene, but sitz baths can also be performed to relieve pain and place healing ointments to heal the fissure more quickly.

7. Ulcerative colitis

This is an intestinal disorder that causes ulcers in the intestine and constant inflammation of the mucosa. So it is common for people with ulcerative colitis to have stool accompanied by blood, pus, or mucus.

Other symptoms that help identify a case of ulcerative colitis are diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, skin lesions, and weight loss.

What to do: It is generally recommended to increase fiber intake, through foods such as papaya, lettuce or chickpeas, to increase the volume of stool and make them less hard. In addition to this, it may be necessary to take some medication to relieve abdominal cramps or even diarrhea.

When mucus in the stool can be dangerous

In most cases, mucus in the stool is not a dangerous situation, representing almost always an easy situation to treat. However, if the excess mucus arises associated with other symptoms such as:

Bloody or pussy stools;

Severe abdominal pain;

Exaggerated abdominal swelling;

Constant diarrhea.

It is recommended to go to the hospital or to mark a consultation in the gastroenterologist, since it can be signal of more serious diseases like ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and even cancer.